Chelsea staves off Stoke City; Wayne Rooney paces Manchester United

Chelsea survived a stunning strike by Stoke City's Charlie Adam while Manchester United coasted to a victory behind Wayne Rooney.

April 04, 2015

LONDON (AP) — With a seven-point lead and a game in hand, Chelsea's title triumph seems assured. What made the Premier League action so thrilling on Saturday were the wonder goals.

The most audacious came at Stamford Bridge from the visitors. Stoke midfielder Charlie Adam beat goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois from inside his own half but it couldn't prevent Chelsea winning 2-1 to strengthen its grip on top spot with eight matches to go. After Eden Hazard's penalty was canceled out by Adam, Chelsea's winner was more mundane, with Loic Remy slotting into an empty net in the second half.

Arsenal rose to second by overwhelming Liverpool 4-1, with a three-goal burst coming in eight minutes. And Manchester United climbed provisionally to third with a 3-1 victory that featured an exquisite volley on the turn from captain Wayne Rooney.

Manchester City was dragged down to fourth place without playing, though the champions can return to second on Monday by winning at Crystal Palace.

The sensational strikes weren't just the preserve of the leading teams. Bobby Zamora lobbed the goalkeeper to score as Queens Park Rangers stunned 10-man West Bromwich Albion 4-1.

QPR remains in the drop zone, while Leicester is still bottom despite beating West Ham 2-1 for its first victory in three months.

Hull is now level with Villa, three points above the drop zone, after losing 3-1 with 10 men to Swansea, with Bafetimbi Gomis' overhead kick the pick of his two goals.

Southampton's collapse from being a Champions League contender continued with Everton captain Phil Jagielka clinching a 1-0 win.

At the Emirates Stadium, three goals in eight minutes just before halftime secured Arsenal's victory after a string of saves from goalkeeper Simon Mignolet had rescued Liverpool.

Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey combined with a flowing move to set up Hector Bellerin to curl the ball past Mignolet in the 37th minute.

Two minutes later Ozil bent a free kick around the wall into the net and Alexis Sanchez resisted Kolo Toure's sliding challenge before dispatching the ball high past Mignolet before the break.

Although Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson pulled one back from the penalty spot, Emre Can was sent off in the 84th minute. Arsenal used its man advantage to ensure the victory was even more emphatic, with Olivier Giroud scoring in stoppage time.